It’s the last day of the Festival, and the sun is shining inside and out. We conclude our short but powerful retreat with two final meditations and with the strong determination to continue our practice in daily life.

It’s a rainy day today but as we meditate, session upon session, you feel the truth about happiness not depending on external conditions. Some of the downpours that come during meditation sessions even enhance the feeling of the meditation.

In a world that can often feel difficult, it is easy for kindness to feel like an exception not the rule. Not at Festival! Everywhere you look there is kindness and it becomes the ‘normal’ to treat others gently, with kindness and care and to be on the receiving end of others’ consideration and generosity.

When you talk to people about what they are enjoying about being at the Festival normally they say ‘everything’! The spiritual program of course, and the opportunity to be immersed in Kadampa life, but one thing comes up again and again: being together. Love. Community.

In the afternoon everyone gathers expectantly for the actual blessing empowerment of Buddha Maitreya with Gen-la Jampa. The Temple is full and it is a joyful assembly.